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By Charles H. Tggleston 






JOHN F. DA VIES 

BOX 211 

Bjttk. Montana 
1912 






This poem appeared in the Anaconda 
Standard, of Anaconda, Montana, Aug. 
13, 1897, the day after Mr. Bryan's ad- 
dress. It has been widely appreciated, 
and twice reprinted in editions dis- 
tributed at the expense of the paper. 
The demand for a wider circulation 
has induced the present publisher to 
bring out this edition. 









^j HAVE read of Roman triumphs in the days when Rome 
*3J played ball. 

When she met all other nations, taking out of each a fall ; 
When victorious Roman generals marched their legions home 

in state, 
With the plunder of the conquered — and the conquered paid 

the freight. 
Gorgeous were those vast processions rolling through the streets 

of Rome ; 
Mad with joy went all the Romans welcoming the veterans 

home. 
Gold there was for fifty Klondikes, silver trinkets big as logs, 
Marble statues by the cartload, gems enough to stone the dogs. 
Following chariot cars were captives, dainty damsels by tin- 

score, 
Ballet dancers from far harems, savage men and beasts galore. 
Millions cheered and yelled and thundered; shook the earth 

as by a storm ; 
All Rome howled — and yet Rome's howling after all was qoI 

so warm, 
For these monster Roman triumphs, at w T hich not a stone was 

mute, 
Couldn't hold a Roman candle — 

When Bryan came to Butte. 



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I have read of the convulsions of the fiery men of Prance 
When Napoleon came from Elba, eager for another chance 



Marble hearts and frozen shoulders turned the generals to their 

chief, 
But the people hailed their master with a rapture past belief. 
What though France lay stunned and bleeding, she arose and 

got too gay ; 
What though he had cost her fortunes, still the devil was to pay. 
Though he'd slain a million soldiers and returned to slay some 

more, 
The survivors stood there ready to pour forth their inmost gore ; 
And they wept and sang and shouted, whooped and roared in 

sheer delight. 
On their knees they begged, implored him to pull off another 

fight- 
Sure the champion was in training, and in training couldn t 

lose ; 
Thus they laughed and cried and acted as if jagged with 

wildest booze. 
But the passion that they cherished for this brilliant French 

galoot 
Was as zero 1m that witnessed 

When Bryan came to Butte. 






; h av e read of Queen Victoria and her diamond jubilee. 
London rose and did the handsome— i1 was something up in Gk 
Long and glittering the procession— beal old Barnum's besl 

to death ; 
When the queen is on exhibit, even cyclones hold their breath 



Troops of white and black and yellow — regiments from East 

and West — 
All the glory of Great Britain — pomp until you couldn't rest. 
Russia also cut a figure when she crowned the reigning czar. 
In the line of fancy blowouts Russian stock is up to par. 
There were balls and fetes and fireworks, bands played on and 

cannon roared; 
Monarchy was at the bat, and all their royal nibses scored. 
Add the Moscow show to London's, take the paralyzing pair, 
Put the queen and czar together, yoke the lion and the bear — 
Swell these pageantries of Europe till you get a dream to suit — 
And it's pretty small potatoes — 

When Bryan came to Butte. 



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Bryan has had many triumphs, some ovations off and on 
Just a little bit the biggest that the sun e'er shone upon. 
You remember the convention in Chicago, do you not, 
When the party went to Bryan and the goldbugs went to pot? 
You remember the excitement when he rose and caught the 

crowd, 
AVhen for fully twenty minutes everybody screamed aloud. 
Oh, the mighty roar of thousands as he smote the cross of gold. 
As he gripped the British LioE in a giant's strangle hold! 
Oh, the fury of the frenzy as he crushed the crown of thorns, 
As lie grabbed the situation, as he held i1 by the horns! 



Some there were who leaped the benches, some who maniac 

dances lead, 
Some who tried to kick the ceiling, more who tried to wake 

the dead. 
'Twas a record-breaking rouser, down to fame it shoots the 

chute, 
But it wasn't quite a fly-speck — 

When Bryan came to Butte. 



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Ah. when Bryan came to Butte ! greatest mining camp on earth ; 
Where the people dig and delve, and demand their money's 

worth. 
Though the Wall street kings and princes spurn and kick them 

as a clod, 
Bryan is their friend and savior and they love him as a god. 
Did they meet him when he came there? Did they make a 

little noise? 
W.rc they really glad to see him? Do you think it pleased 

the boys? 
'Twas the screaming of the eagle as he never screamed before. 

"Twas the crashing of the thunder, mingling with Niagara's 

roar. 
All Hie whistles were a-screeching, with the bands they set 

the pace — 
hui the yelling of the people never let them gel a place. 



Dancing up and down and sideways, splitting lungs and throats 

and ears, 
All were yelling, and at yelling seemed wound up a thousand 

years. 



Of the earth's great celebrations 'twas the champion heavy- 
weight, 
Tis the champion forever and a day, I calculate, 
For it knocked out all its rivals, and, undaunted, resolute, 
Punched creation's solar plexus — 

When Bryan came to Butte. 



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